Submitted To:

Dr. Abdul Basit

Submitted By:
Liaqat Ali
145
2-408077
EMB
A- MIS
Fall
Quarter 2008

Submission
Date:
27th October,
2008.

Instructors Remarks:
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_____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Question:
Write a note on SARAS method of reading.
Answer:

Before writing anything or in detail about SARAS method of

reading let us first take a look at the graphical representation of this
method so we can have a good idea about it while discussing.

1.
Survey

2.
Analyze

3. Read at Appropriate
Speed

Speed General Careful

Reading Reading Reading
(Skimming) (Accelerating (Phrase-
) Reading)

The SARAS method for speed reading

As shown in the diagram the word SARAS is derived from taking the
first letters from all the steps involved in the process (underlined and
the capital words). We can break SARAS method into three steps and
that are:

1. Survey

2. Analyze

3. Read at Appropriate Speed.

Now lets discuss each one in detail for the better understandability of
the whole method.

1. Survey:

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 As in the diagram Survey is the first step in SARAS method of
reading. In surveying we read some parts while leaving all the rest
completely. This doesnt mean that survey is speed reading it is only a
component of the whole process. Survey is a selective and careful
sampling of any key parts of the text. We survey the writing to quickly
understand the main points and to have the abstract, before reading
the complete material, so to have better understanding of the
material. While surveying we read following three parts of any writing
i.e. A book, A business letter or A chapter of any book

I.) The Beginning.

II.) The End.

III.) The Structural Clues.

In Survey preview the material by reading

certain items very carefully and completely

2. Analyze:

At the completion end of the survey phase the next step in the
process is to analyze the writing. This analyzing is totally based on the
survey of the writing which has been performed earlier. On this ground
we will have to decide one among the three possible options, and
these are

I.) Read the Entire Writing.

II.) Read Only the Selected Parts of the Writing.

III.) Not to Read the Writing at All.

Selecting one course of action will give you the perfect guide line for
the third and final phase in the process of speed reading. If you decide
to go for any of the first two options then analyzing will surely help you
in deciding the appropriate speed for the rest of the reading process.

By Analyzing you can decide that any of the

writing, worth how much of your time.

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3. Read at Appropriate Speed:

The third and the last phase is the process of selecting a right
speed for the reading as in the figure above there are three basic
reading speeds and those are;

I.) Speed Reading or Skimming: Out of the three speeds the

first one is called as Speed Reading or skimming.
Skimming means to read or glance through quickly. We
prefer this method when we dont have time but want to
have a look at any written material. In this method we just
by pass the complete writing by just visiting some text out of
the whole in some rhythmic flow. There are two main
techniques for skimming, i) Externally Imposed Rhythm in
this when you skim, you choose a rhythm and continue
( certain no. of seconds for each page) it. ii) Finger Patterns
in which we concentrate on and around our finger and look
down at the text. Below are the six techniques of finger
patterns.
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA

Moving down the Moving from left Moving down the

centre of the page. to right in diagonal page side to side.

AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA

AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA
Moving down the Moving down the Moving down the
page in spiral motion. page in blocks. page sweeping lines.

Six Techniques of Skimming

II.) General Reading or Accelerating: The second technique

is of General Reading or Accelerating. We go for this option
when we have time and the need for better understanding of
the written material. In accelerating unlike skimming we read
line by line to have the main and supporting ideas. In this
technique though we are reading at good slow rate but we are

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 not concentrating for all the details, still we are missing a lot.
To use this type of reading we must overcome the problems of
inbuilt reading habit and lack of concentration. There are two
main techniques for accelerating i) Acceleration Devices:
Mechanical aids for reading bit faster than normal reading
speed. ii) Internally Imposed Acceleration: The rhythm for
reading is set internally by the reader.

III.) Careful Reading or Phrase Reading: The third and final

rate is known as Careful Reading or Phrase-Reading. We use
this when there is some crucial need for detailed reading. The
main technique for phrase-reading is known as Eye-Fixation.
In this technique we try to reduce the no of times we use to
fix our eyes at certain points while reading so to avoid the
time wastage. The average fixation of a common person are
four to six times, while in phrase reading we try to cut it at
two or three times.

In Skimming the reading rate is 800-3000

W.P.M.
In Accelerating the reading rate is 400-500
W.P.M.

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